YouSaid · the spoken record

Kumalo

lines on the record: 1,090
first: 1999-08-25
most recent: 2008-12-31
sittings or episodes: 160
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In that regard, the international community should provide early support for economic growth in post-conflict situations and continue to provide resources for reintegration and rehabilitation programmes, as well as social services such as education and health care. Such assistance would ensure that children who have left armed forces and groups do not become re-recruited, but have a chance for a dignified future. Lastly, special consideration of girls is needed when developing programmes for children associated with armed forces and groups. Girls often experience gender-based violence and discrimination during their recruitment or use and within communities to which they return. Therefore, it is important that reintegration and rehabilitation programmes include measures to address all forms of violence and discrimination against girls.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“Ensuring the well-being of those children is an ongoing process and therefore more attention should be paid to the reintegration and rehabilitation of children associated with armed forces and groups. Successful reintegration requires the participation of children themselves and their communities. Children identify safety, acceptance, being valued and having a future as central to their reintegration. Furthermore, children identify education, skills training and equipping themselves to be constructive members of their community as essential for their continuing welfare. Successful reintegration is also dependent on the promotion of sustainable development and poverty eradication.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“Since 2005, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict has reviewed reports of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict and made recommendations to the Council that have yielded some positive results on the ground. The Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, has been actively involved in eliciting concrete child protection commitments through her engagement with Governments, parties to conflict, United Nations partners and the international community. Her efforts are to be commended. It is vital that we not forget the long-term needs of children that have been affected by armed conflict.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“Today, a number of parties to armed conflict, though not many, have formal action plans in place to halt recruitment and identify and release children from their forces. We remain optimistic that more action plans might be prepared in the coming months. Efforts to include specific provisions relating to children in peace processes and agreements are beginning to gain momentum. It is important that provisions such as the release of children and reintegration into their communities be included at all stages of peace negotiations and in the final documents of peace agreements. The incorporation of child protection requirements in United Nations peacekeeping mandates, including through the appointment of child-protection advisers, has become more systematic.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“The Security Council has identified six grave violations committed against children in armed conflict that my delegation believes require equal weight and attention by the Council. These six violations are the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in violation of applicable international law, killing and maiming of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abductions, denial of humanitarian access to children, and attacks on schools and hospitals by parties to armed conflict. There is still much to be done to protect children from these grave violations. However, we are encouraged by the fact that the active involvement of the Security Council on the issue of children and armed conflict has been translated into concrete results.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“Of importance are the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child relating to the involvement of children in armed conflict, the Statute of the International Criminal Court and Security Council resolutions that address the issue of children and armed conflict thematically or in country-specific situations. In addition, the 2007 Paris Commitments to protect children unlawfully recruited or used by armed forces or armed groups provides a children's rights approach to programming. Despite these developments, children remain the worst affected population group, since parties to armed conflict continue to commit egregious violations against them.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“We too commend the delegation of Viet Nam for organizing this open thematic debate on children and armed conflict. We particularly wish to thank the Deputy Prime Minister for coming to New York to preside over our meeting today. We thank all those who have participated earlier on in this debate, but we particularly wish to highlight the efforts of Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and thank her for the work that she has been doing for children around the world. In 1996, Graca Machel compiled the first report on children affected by armed conflict (A/51/306.Add.1). Since the release of her report, significant progress has been made in the development of international legal and policy frameworks for the protection of children in armed conflict.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936 (2008) · source
“Nonetheless, we are encouraged by the commitment to dialogue by the Zimbabwe parties. That dialogue will lead to the improvement of the humanitarian and economic situation, thereby contributing to a better life for all Zimbabweans. The Security Council must give space for the African Union summit decision to be implemented.”
2008-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5933 (2008) · source
“Morgan Tsvangirai, to honour their commitments to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation of the Zimbabwe people". The summit further "expressed its appreciation to SADC, and its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, as well as the facilitator of the intra- Zimbabwe dialogue, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, and His Excellency Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for the ongoing work aimed at reconciling the political parties". Accordingly, South Africa, as a member of both SADC and the African Union, is obliged to follow the decision of those regional bodies. For that reason, my delegation will vote against the draft resolution before us.”
2008-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5933 (2008) · source
“At that time, the Extraordinary Summit of SADC appealed for the lifting of all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe. The African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, meeting in its eleventh ordinary session held from 30 June to 1 July 2008 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, expressed deep concern about the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe. However, when considering the matter of Zimbabwe, the African Union summit did not call for sanctions against that country. Instead, the African Union summit "appealed to States and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate for dialogue". The summit also decided "to encourage President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the MDC party, Mr.”
2008-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5933 (2008) · source
“The talks are aimed at finding solutions to the challenges in Zimbabwe." As we meet this afternoon, the talks are continuing in South Africa as the Zimbabwe parties continue to seek a political solution to the challenges they face, complicated by the holding of an election that was preceded by violence and political intimidation that resulted in a process that was unfair and declared to be not transparent by the observers from SADC, the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament. South Africa was appointed as facilitator at the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SADC, chaired by the Chairperson of the SADC the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, held in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania on 28 and 29 March 2007.”
2008-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5933 (2008) · source
“Earlier this morning, a joint media statement by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitator, the representative of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was issued in Pretoria. The statement reads: "The talks between the Zimbabwean political parties consisting of ZANU-PF, MDC-Tsvangirai and MDC-Mutambara, chaired by the Government of South Africa as mandated by SADC, resumed in South Africa yesterday.”
2008-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5933 (2008) · source
“In conclusion, we would like to stress the importance of regional cooperation as an effective means to promote security, governance and development in Afghanistan. In that context, my delegation welcomes the Special Representative's fruitful visits to Iran and Pakistan. We would support similar visits in the future aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in creating a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Finally, we thank the Italian delegation for preparing a draft presidential statement on Afghanistan. South Africa is committed to working with other delegations to ensure its early adoption.”
2008-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5930 (2008) · source
“We concur with the assessment of the Secretary-General that the implementation of this Strategy will require the strong support of the international community. My delegation supports a common approach that will integrate security, governance, the rule of law, human rights and social and economic development in Afghanistan. While the partnership between the Afghan people and the international community continues to strengthen, the persistent threat to security posed by insurgent and terrorist activities is the main challenge to Afghanistan's nation-building efforts and stability. South Africa expresses its concern regarding the recent terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians, children and diplomats, as well as any attempt to destabilize Afghanistan.”
2008-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5930 (2008) · source
“We are pleased that the Paris conference resulted in pledges of international assistance totalling about $20 billion. We hope that those pledges will be translated into actual commitments and will make a difference in improving the lives of the Afghan people. My delegation continues to support the central and impartial role of UNAMA under the leadership of Special Representative Eide in leading the coordination of international efforts and in coordinating between the Afghan Government and the international community. We further support the strengthening of UNAMA's coordination capacity to enable the mission itself to make a significant difference on the ground. South Africa reaffirms its support for the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy under the ownership of the Afghan people.”
2008-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5930 (2008) · source
“We, too, thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mr. Kai Eide, for presenting the special report of the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 1806 (2008) on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. We also thank the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. John Holmes, for his briefing on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. South Africa welcomes the successful outcomes of the international Conference in Support of Afghanistan that was held in Paris on 12 June 2008. That meeting was another important step in enhancing the partnership between Afghanistan and the international community.”
2008-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5930 (2008) · source
“We believe that the good offices of the Secretary-General must be encouraged to help these two friendly neighbours resolve their dispute. We also wish to point out that both the League of Arab States and the African Union have also offered their good offices in this dispute. We can only express the hope that the two countries will heed the call of the international community, not allow their differences to balloon into major disputes and do everything in their power to resolve their problems in a peaceful manner.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“We wish to appeal to both Djibouti and Eritrea and to emphasize that the use of force in resolving disputes is both unworkable and indeed unsustainable. We join others in expressing our concern over the escalation of tensions in the Horn of Africa and condemn the use of force to solve disputes. Unfortunately, this involves part of our continent, which has seen its own share of troubles. We appeal to both parties to exercise restraint. We support the call of the African Union for the parties to immediately return to the situation prevailing before this dispute began. We urge the parties to engage in dialogue in an effort to resolve their differences. We encourage the efforts of the Secretary-General and thank Mr. Honwana for his briefing.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“Allow me also to welcome the Prime Minister of Djibouti and thank him for visiting us in New York. We still have very fond memories of the hospitable and gracious way in which the Government of Djibouti treated us when we visited that country. We are very thankful for that. We also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Djibouti and thank him for also having come to this meeting. We are pleased with the participation in this meeting of the representative of Eritrea and the representatives of the League of Arab States and of the African Union. The situation that is being faced by the Council, and indeed by the African Union, is a very difficult one. That is why we support the holding of this emergency meeting today.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5924 (2008) · source
“To really have a good four-part harmony, you must all sing from the same sheet music or remember the same song. Right now, the four that he mentioned that make up that four-part harmony do not even have the same sheet music among themselves so how can they sing together in four-part harmony? I agree on the arms embargo and the proliferation of arms in Darfur, but that will also only be addressed if we have all the pieces in place, if we have UNAMID at full strength and if we have a political process under way. That may do it, but right now, when the people of Darfur ask us the difficult question "Can you help us?", at this moment we should be humble enough to say that we are not yet well enough equipped to help them. We truly want to, but we just are not there yet.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“But if we are going to deal with some of these people, who are so well-described here, maybe we need to say something about how that should happen. At the same time, with regard to the political process - and I realize that this is not the meeting for that, but I have said it before and I will say it again - I was very surprised at how inadequately resourced the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) is. I told the story about going into a camp in Darfur and listening to the people saying "we need protection" and then going to UNAMID and realizing that we do not have the resources to assist them at this stage. That is why we hope the deployment can speed up as soon as possible. I am tempted to comment on Mr. Eliasson's four- part harmony, coming from Africa, where we sing without instruments.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I am not saying we should not put pressure on the Government. But I am trying to ask: what is the way in which we could also apply pressure to these people? Based on the statements we have just heard, I want to say a small prayer for the chief mediator who will be appointed, because expecting the mediator that the Secretary-General will appoint to go into this situation and to do better than these very seasoned international civil servants in front of us is asking too much. We must provide tools that the international community is going to use to assist the mediator in doing his work. Otherwise, the only difference between this person who will be appointed and Mr. Salim and Mr. Eliasson will be that he or she will be based in Khartoum and will be there all the time.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“It is not been surprising that JEM, which was of course roundly condemned by all of us for their attack on Omdurman, is viewed by all those who know about them as not having their hearts in Darfur. Darfur is a good halfway station for them, because Darfur comes with publicity and the world's attention. That raises the question that I would like to ask both Special Envoys, through you, Mr. President. The Envoys were very diplomatic, saying that we should put pressure on them. But what about taking serious measures against these people? What about putting pressure on them? Of course, it is easy to put pressure on the Government, because they are there, but these guys are operating out of the back of their pickup trucks. What about finding ways to also put pressure on them? Some of them live in Europe, so we can get to them if we want to.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“We in South Africa remain very committed to trying to find a durable solution to the situation in Darfur, one of whose very important pillars is the political process. We pay tribute to what Mr. Eliasson and Mr. Salim have done in trying to re-energize the peace process. I was very struck by my visit to Sudan. Before I went there, I thought there were basically two movements, one called the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and one called the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), and those were really the two movements, with, of course, splinter factions from those two. But among everyone that I talked to in Sudan, no one ever believed that JEM. was really serious about Darfur. First Vice-President Salva Kiir said that JEM. has always had the goal of regime change. They are more worried about changing the Government in Khartoum.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I sometimes wonder whether we can address their cries. We all say that the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) should be at full strength, but we should also be aware that, even if UNAMID was deployed at full capacity, it cannot be a substitute for dialogue and political negotiations. Without the political process, one would need 200,000 soldiers and perhaps 100 helicopters in the air at all times. Certainly, we should call for helicopters, which are so sorely needed in Darfur; but without the political process, one would need to keep those helicopters in the air for 24 hours a day to give any kind of assurance to the people of Darfur, who are exposed, not only to the elements of nature, but to the violence that can come from every imaginable direction and from every imaginable source.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting. Let me also welcome the Special Envoys, Mr. Jan Eliasson, whom I choose to remember in his capacity as President of the General Assembly, and, of course, Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, who will forever be associated with the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union (AU). I must say at the outset that, having been to Darfur, I admire the fact that these two Special Envoys were able to go there over and over again to try to assist the people of Darfur. In fact, I would like to say that those who always wonder what is wrong in Darfur and what can be done probably should spend time studying the two statements delivered to us today. Although we left Darfur a while ago, I am still concerned that the people in Darfur are crying for Darfur.”
2008-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5922 (2008) · source
“I am bringing this up to say that, as we work on that issue in the future, I think the issue of UNAMID, its strength and the conditions under which it operates really needs more attention from the Council to assist our colleagues in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and our extremely valiant UNAMID friends on the ground to do their work even better.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“When we visited the people in the camp in Darfur, who told us that they did not feel safe there, that they were afraid, that they might be attacked, it was very humbling to realize that UNAMID was not at the strength that would enable it to actually respond to those people's fears. That is very worrisome. The humanitarian workers talked about the difficult, at times very unsafe conditions under which they have to service the people in the camps and UNAMID. They also spoke about corridors of safety that allow them to do their work. UNAMID is nowhere near up to strength such that it can help in that way.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“I shall be very brief, because I fully agree with the report that Ambassador Sawers has just given. However, there is one issue that I want to highlight. In my humble opinion, the Council needs to pay much more attention to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). I was among those who, I suppose because we were on the ground, were very shocked at how under-resourced UNAMID is. Of course, that is simply because UNAMID is still being put together. But I want to put on record that this under- resourcing of UNAMID is something that has to be watched. I will give two quick examples.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“I want to conclude paying tribute to them and saying that we could not do our work as well as we try to do it without their assistance. I am sure that the Permanent Representative of France, when he speaks, will also mention other people who were unexpectedly involved in our trip. The Government of Rwanda, for example, was helpful to us when we ran into some logistical problems. I just mention this in order to thank all those men and women who serve the United Nations throughout the African continent in the most difficult situations and all of those who assisted us and all of the Governments that were there to assist us as well. To them, I would like to say that we appreciate their efforts.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“The Security Council reiterated the intention that is contained in the resolution, namely, that if there is an improvement in the security situation in Somalia and if the parties come together on a political agreement, and 08-38934 once there is an indication that the situation on the ground has improved, the Security Council would then consider a mission that could take over from United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). I think that this is a very encouraging goal that the Somali people have clung to, and I think that the meetings they have had have really shown that they are committed to that. Finally, none of these meetings are possible without the anonymous people who assist us in everything we do: the Secretariat, the security people, the country teams and the other people on the ground, who always make these trips possible.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“We left Djibouti very encouraged that the delegations of the Government and civil society and the opposition parties that were there would find a way out of this dilemma. Indeed, after we left Djibouti it was reported that they had reached agreement. Of course, this was not an agreement among all the parties and groups in Somalia, so those who were outside the agreement criticized it. But, one thing cannot be denied: for the first time, there appears to be a critical mass of Somali parties and groups that want peace to emerge from the situation. Thus, we are monitoring the situation in Somalia and are looking forward to receiving a further report and update from Mr. Ould Abdallah, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who was our host for these meetings, and to seeing whether this situation continues.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“For instance, we were told by the country team that the Somali shilling had collapsed and that this has had a very adverse impact on the economy. Additionally, three years of drought and the global food crisis had not helped the people of Somalia, but had increased the strain in the humanitarian situation. And, of course, the lack of security, even for humanitarian workers in Somalia, was also an urgent matter facing the people. However, all in all, the people have realized that the way out for Somalia is, first, to establish a political process involving as many groups and parties as possible so that the security situation could improve. Once the security situation has improved, they realize, their situation and their livelihoods would, indeed, improve as well.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“But the good news is that, in the end, we learned after we had left that both parties had reached an agreement. They realized that they first had to create a security environment in Somalia that was guaranteed, 08-38934 so as to allow all the other foreign troops to leave the country. But we were struck by the commitment of all the people we talked to, whether it was the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, civil society or even the United Nations country team, in their hope that Somalia was at a different stage than at any other time. That is because there appeared to be a willingness among the majority of the parties to find a political way out of the situation that they found themselves in. We met with the country team, which gave us insights about other issues that are very urgent in Somalia.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“Of course, what was made very clear by the President of the Transitional Federal Government, who had invited the Ethiopian troops, was the fact that the Ethiopian troops were playing an important role of maintaining security in Somalia. However, both the Government and the opposition parties foresaw a time when those troops would leave, after the security situation in Somalia had improved. The debate was over whether the troops should leave before the security situation stabilized, or after there had been a political agreement among the parties and security was established. The Government was adamant that there had first to be a political agreement among the parties so that there would be no vacuum. The opposition party and civil society representatives we met with were arguing the opposite.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“The President of Somalia made it very clear that his Government was willing to engage in dialogue and reach agreement with all the parties in Somalia. After that, we met with an African Union delegation, which also represented the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), led by the Peace and Security Commissioner, Ambassador Lamamra. They also told us that they were committed to assisting the people of Somalia in getting out of the situation they are in. It became very clear, after meeting also with representatives of the opposition parties and others, that the primary issue in Somalia was bringing about security in the country and a political process that could move the situation forward. But they said that, at the heart of the parties' difficulty was the presence of the Ethiopian troops.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“We met with the Somali parties in Djibouti because that was where the delegation of the Transitional Federal Government was meeting with the opposition groups, including a group called the 2 Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, to try to agree on a way out of the difficulties that their country has been engaged in for the past 18 years. We began our meeting in Djibouti by being honoured by the presence of the Prime Minister of Djibouti, who came to welcome the Security Council, on behalf of the Government and people of Djibouti, to his country for those meetings. Regarding our Somali meetings, we began meeting with the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, who stressed to us his willingness to find a way out of his country's difficulties.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“I have the honour to report on the portion of Security Council trip that dealt with the issues of Somalia and Sudan. As you have already stated, Mr. President, I had the honour to co-lead that segment with my colleague, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom. To start with my own conclusions on the Somalia trip, the people of Somalia had an opportunity that is not readily available: to be able to put their case before the members of the Security Council, who are continuously considering the issue of Somalia.”
2008-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5915 (2008) · source
“Finally, allow me to convey my delegation's deep regret at the tragic killings that took place earlier this month of two aid workers, a World Food Programme- contracted truck driver in Somalia and a country director of Save the Children in eastern Chad. The deaths of those humanitarian workers underline yet again the dangerous and volatile environment that aid workers have to endure in giving assistance to civilians caught in armed conflict. The loss of their service is a loss to all of us.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“Therefore, it is important that humanitarian assistance continues to be provided in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The protection of civilians in armed conflict must remain a priority of the United Nations system. My delegation is therefore of the view that finding a common solution to the protection of civilians would need the cooperation of each and every Member State. We further believe that the protection of civilians would be better addressed in partnership with regional mechanisms, and that strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the Security Council and regional organizations would contribute to tackling common security challenges and ensuring speedy action on the ground.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“The Council should look into the Secretary- General's proposal for establishing mechanisms to enable United Nations humanitarian agencies to have some working-level dialogue with all parties to armed conflict on the ground. Such dialogue would be necessary for establishing "deconflicting" arrangements to agree upon the routes and timing of humanitarian convoys and airlifts to avoid accidental strikes on humanitarian operations. Such dialogue would also promote humanitarian corridors and days of tranquillity. In the case of the occupied Palestinian territories, the blockade should be lifted so that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs can have contact and dialogue with all parties, particularly in Gaza, and provide the necessary humanitarian assistance.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“The issue of humanitarian access will require further attention so as to find ways to ensure that those in need of life-saving assistance receive it and that those who provide it do so in a secure environment in which attacks on humanitarian workers are not tolerated. According to the Secretary-General's current report, constraints on or denials of access can take several forms. Those are constraints imposed by the operating environment, such as the destruction of infrastructure; the attempts by parties to conflict to restrict or block access; time-consuming bureaucratic procedures for importing humanitarian supplies and restrictions, or delays in issuing visas and travel permits for humanitarian personnel; and the constraints resulting from deliberate attacks on humanitarian workers.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“South Africa, as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its two Additional Protocols of 1977, wishes to underline the importance of adhering to the principles contained in those Conventions and to appeal for the full implementation of the commitments made by all States parties to those basic tenets of international law. The Security Council should also continue to call upon all parties to conflict, including multinational forces authorized by the Council, to uphold their international humanitarian law and human rights obligations and to report on steps taken to ensure the protection of civilians during the conduct of hostilities.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“In other conflict situations, even militarily superior parties, including multinational forces, are often compelled to respond with methods and means of warfare that violate the principles of distinction and proportionality, of which civilians again bear the brunt. Therefore, addressing the specific protection needs of women and children remains an important matter for the United Nations system. My delegation reiterates our support for the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security and 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict. That means that concrete proposals are also needed to ensure the right of refugees and internally displaced persons to safe and unimpeded voluntary return.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“My delegation wishes to thank the United Kingdom presidency for organizing this open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We also commend the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, for briefing the Council. In armed conflicts around the world, civilians continue to be displaced, killed, maimed and often raped. According to the Secretary-General's report, for 35 million people around the world, flight has become the only option. The deliberate targeting of civilians and the indiscriminate and excessive use of force, including suicide attacks, have become widespread in certain places, creating a climate of fear aimed at further destabilizing and displacing civilian populations.”
2008-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5898 (2008) · source
“There are no further speakers on my list. Before adjourning the meeting, I should like, in my national capacity, to thank the Secretariat, the interpreters and the members of the Council, who have made this a very interesting month for the presidency. I thank them for their support. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 11 pm. 08-32472”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5884 (2008) · source
“It is for that reason that, despite the serious concerns with the draft, my delegation will vote 08-32472 in favour of the resolution in the hope that through the negotiating process and with the support of MINURSO the people of Western Sahara can one day achieve their right to self-determination. I now resume my function as President of the Council. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Belgium, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Panama, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Viet Nam The President: There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1813 (2008).”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5884 (2008) · source
“My delegation finds it extremely curious that some Council members selectively are quick to pronounce on the human rights situations in countries that are not even on the agenda of the Security Council, such as Myanmar and Zimbabwe, but refuse to deal with human rights abuses in Western Sahara, which this Council has been faced with for decades. This double standard creates a clear impression to the international community that the Council simply does not care about the human rights of the people of Western Sahara. The resolution does, however, call on the parties- Frente POLISARIO and Morocco - to continue where the negotiations began after the adoption of resolution 1754 (2007), on the basis of the two proposals.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5884 (2008) · source
“The Council and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General should remain objective without pre-empting any final status of the negotiations. The sponsors have once again refused to include any mention of human rights in the draft resolution, despite the fact that the Secretary-General has continued to report on the human rights situation in Western Sahara. Additionally, both parties - Frente POLISARIO and Morocco - have raised human rights concerns in their recent letters to the Secretary- General.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5884 (2008) · source
“The context and the relevance of retaining this phrase have changed. This phrase has, unfortunately, led to destructive ambiguity and has resulted in some unfortunately interpreting the Council's intention as favouring one proposal over the other. My delegation reiterates our understanding, as a Council member that was part of the negotiations on the text of resolution 1754 (2007), that the text of the resolution is clear, that the Council takes note of both proposals and that the Council called on the parties to enter into negotiations based on both of these proposals. Any attempt to place one proposal above the other would undermine the negotiations process and would be counterproductive to the spirit of future negotiations based on these two proposals.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5884 (2008) · source